U.S. decision on Iran seen as key as protests continue, analyst says

The next steps by the United States toward Iran are now more significant than the scale of ongoing protests inside the country, Iran specialist Vardan Voskanyan said, as demonstrations appeared smaller and less violent overnight.

In a social media post on Monday, Voskanyan said protests continued across Iran last night, but participation and levels of violence were “incomparably lower”.

“It does not necessarily mean the unrest has peaked and developments during the weekend on Thursday and Friday will be more indicative,” he wrote.

Iran has declared three days of mourning following casualties on both sides during recent clashes, he added.

“At this stage, the more significant factor appears to be not the protests in Iran, which authorities have largely brought under control, but the decision of the U.S. president regarding possible actions toward Iran,” he said.

Speaking to reporters while returning to Washington on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had not yet made a final decision on Iran and that several options remain under consideration.

Voskanyan noted that any U.S. decision is likely to be closely tied to developments inside Iran, as well as to indirect contacts between Tehran and Washington, which "appear to be taking place based on indirect signals".